The next phase of the Clacton Hospital upgrade has begun.

The multi-million-pound upgrade will see parts of the existing building demolished and a two-storey extension built to house a new Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC).

Two buildings - the Kate Grant building and Jubilee Wing - will be retained and refurbished as part of the project, which aims to create modern facilities which meet patients' changing needs.

Other improvements that have already been made include: a new Community Diagnostic Centre and endoscopy suite, moving the podiatry department to a more spacious ares and extra parking spaces and electric car charging points.

Eeast Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) is working with Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (SNEE ICB) and NHS Property Services to carry out the project. NHS England and SNEE ICB have contributed funding.

Project manager Naomi Palmer said: “We are delighted that Clacton Hospital is benefitting from such a significant investment. The work that has taken place so far has brought essential diagnostic services closer to home while vastly improving the environment in which our patients receive care.

“The next phase of this major project will see a new, easy-to-access UTC created, along with extra clinical spaces. The work has been planned carefully so that patients can continue to access these services throughout construction without the need to travel further afield.

“Although there will be some noise and disruption while we create these amazing new facilities, we are working hard to keep this to a minimum. We’d like to thank our patients and people living near the site in advance for their patience while we develop their new-look hospital.”